🌱 Belmont Shore Employees Get Free Rides + Pine Ave Sake Sommelier

Hello there, Long Beach! Today, we hone our green thumb on National Houseplant Appreciation Day! I'm here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know that's going on in town. Today's briefing includes news about:

• 🚓 A gun death in the Willmore neighborhood
• 🏥 A gun wound on Cedar Avenue
• 📕 Virtual author talks kicking off on Thursday

🌧️ But first, today's weather:

Rain. High: 61 Low: 46.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in the City of Long Beach

• VP Racing Fuels at 3605 E 7th St., $3.98
• Speedway Express at 3100 Los Coyotes Diagonal, $3.99
• Del Amo Petroleum at 4990 Long Beach Blvd., $3.99

💐 Valentine’s Day Poll! 🥂
Pink hearts, boxes of chocolates, and greeting cards – reminders that Valentine’s Day is coming are everywhere. But responses to the holiday are mixed. What are your feelings about the occasion? Do you celebrate? So far, 50% take a bah-humbug approach, while 38.9% plan on a Valentine’s Day with all the trimmings. 2.8% plan on celebrating Galentine’s Day, and 8.3% focus on Singles Awareness Day.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. A deadly shooting happened in broad daylight. On Sunday morning, a man was killed when he was hit by gunfire near Daisy Avenue and 9th Street. It was 10 a.m., and witnesses identify him as someone who “often worked on cars in front of his apartment and was always happy and willing to lend out tools to others in the neighborhood.” (Long Beach Post)
2. Another man was luckier. On Saturday, after 9 p.m., he drove himself to the hospital after being struck by gunfire in the 2200 block of Cedar Avenue. When police officers arrived at the location, they “located strike marks and a blood trail.” They alerted hospitals, which resulted in the identification of the victim. (Patch)
3. Did you know that Belmont Shore business employees can ride Long Beach Transit buses gratis? The City Council is expected to approve the continuation of this program, which has been in effect since 2012, and fund it to the tune of $270,000. “It helps to open up the parking in the Shore,” a representative of the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission said. (Press-Telegram/paywall)
4. Sake Secret will take over 460 Pine Avenue, the space vacated by Romeo Chocolates. It's the brainchild of Greg Beck, who is a “certified sake sommelier.” Until the brick-and-mortar location opens for business, you can get a head start on tasting the flavors that the combination of four ingredients can accommodate by visiting his pop-up inside the Long Beach Beer Lab. (Long Beach Business Journal/registration required)
5. Free up some time in your schedule for the public library’s virtual Author Talks series in January. It kicks off on Thursday with Namina Forna. On January 17, enjoy the insights of Dana White. The final installment is scheduled for January 31, when you can hear from Randall Munroe. “Virtual author talks provide a unique opportunity to connect residents with their favorite authors,” a representative for the Long Beach Public Library said. (City of Long Beach)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Long Beach Networking Luncheon at Parkers' Lighthouse (11:30 AM)
• The Zzyzx Chess Club meets for Casual Chess Play that's open to all ages at Recreational Coffee (2 PM)
• Tabletop Game Play in the Miller Room of the Billie Jean King Main Library (3 PM)
• Beginning Group Guitar at Musique Sur La Mer (6:30 PM)
• Karaoke at Alex's Bar (9 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Monday was the Southwest Air inaugural flight from Long Beach to New Orleans! Here's a look at the morning's send-off, which included a traditional second line. 🎺🎶" (Long Beach Airport via Instagram)
• "Softball season is just a month away! 🥎 We will see you Wednesday, February 15 for the Home Opener vs San Diego, followed by a weekend full of softball from February 17 to 19, where they take on California, Merrimack, and Louisana-Monroe." (Long Beach State Athletics via Instagram)
• "Lassina Traore of LBSUMBB is our Player of the Week presented by Port of Long Beach! Traore put up two straight double-doubles and leads Big West Sports with 8 this season!" (Long Beach State Athletics via Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Cara Connors Queer Comedy Show: Live at Plantiitas! (January 12)
• Admissions Parent Information Session (January 13)
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Gigs & services:

• Football Coaching for HS and Youth (Details)
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That's it for today! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Long Beach Daily? Contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com